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than 6,000 Mennonites to meet July 2 to 6 in San José |
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By June Krehbiel
NEWTON, Kan. (Mennonite Church USA) - More than 6,000 Mennonites
from 33 U.S. states will gather in San José, Calif.,
for meetings of Mennonite Church USA during the denomination's
biennial convention July 2 to 6. Nearly 1,800 adults, 4,000
youth and several hundred children are expected for meetings
at the San José McEnery Convention Center, Civic
Auditorium and Parkside Hall, joining together for worship,
witness and fellowship as well as delegate business and
servant projects.
Challenged by the convention theme "Live the call!
¡Vive el llamado!" and Ephesians 4:1-6, delegates
will address topics such as healthcare access for pastors,
membership in Christian Churches Together, environmental
stewardship, and congregational and churchwide discernment.
Discussion will also assess results of a denominational
review, the first since the body's formation six years ago.
In 2001 delegates from two sister groups, the former General
Conference Mennonite Church and the former Mennonite Church,
voted to form two new denominations. Out of that decision
emerged Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada.
Known for their efforts for peace and justice, Mennonites
attending the convention will serve the broader San J community
during the week. More than 3,000 youth and adults have signed
up to participate in half-day servant projects, working
with children and the elderly and doing community clean
up.
On July 4, when many in San José will celebrate
the holiday with fireworks, the Mennonite Church USA convention
attendees will take care of delegate work, sit in on seminars,
sing hymns in a mass choir outdoors, participate in a public
peace witness on immigration reform, and worship together.
Paul Alexander, founder and executive director of the Pentecostal
Charismatic Peace Fellowship and director of the doctor
of ministry program at Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University,
will speak during the only combined youth and adult worship
service of the week. His sermon, "Citizens of God's
Kingdom," is at 6:45 p.m. on July 4.
Other speakers for youth sessions are Michele Hershberger,
Hesston (Kan.) College Bible department chair; John D. Roth,
Goshen (Ind.) College history professor; Rudy Carrasco,
executive director of Harambee Christian Family Center,
Pasadena, Calif.; Jason Evans, co-founder of The Ecclesia
Collective in San Diego; Jim Brenneman, Goshen (Ind.) College
president; Brenda Matthews, founder of Imani Nia Productions
in Chicago; and Luke Hartman, educational consultant for
Harrisonburg, (Va.) City Public Schools.
Speakers for the adults will be Juan Martinez, associate
professor for Hispanic studies at Fuller Theological Seminary,
Pasadena, Calif.; Mary Thiessen Nations, an urban mission
consultant from Harrisonburg, Va.; Jennifer Davis Sensenig,
associate pastor of Pasadena (Calif.) Mennonite Church;
Shane Hipps, lead pastor of Trinity Mennonite Church in
Phoenix; and Chuwang Pam, pastor of Los Angeles Faith Chapel.
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